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| Thread ID: 40077 | 2003-11-27 01:48:00 | Networking queries. | beetle (243) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 195103 | 2003-11-27 01:48:00 | ok i have not and am at this stage not attempting to do this, but have some questions... both my Puters run XP home, can these be suitably networked? every thing seems to talk about 98 etc. i realise these have to be conected so over what distance is cabeling ok? mine are at oppoiste ends of house.... (puters) does it cost lots$$$ ??? how many different things would i need? and what do i need to know about the innards of my puters before i start? netword cards? wrong name? ?:| what are good points about being networked? bad points? and the next biggy is could i do this ???? or do i need help???? the main reson is i dont like to share my puter but to get to puters running on the net means, kids or hubby have the option of haveing a go.... may be to much to work on but maybe by mid - late next year i want to be sufficiently knowledgeable to establish this???? or know that its too much for me, or just not bother option...:D yes ? no? honesty wanted please..... TIA beetle |
beetle (243) | ||
| 195104 | 2003-11-27 02:10:00 | XPHome will network to itself in a breeze and should be fairly straight-forward to setup. The Windows Network Setup Wizard takes most of the hassle out of networking and many people I know have found it easy to setup and install their own home network. Depending on how you plan on setting up the network depends on what cabling to use - if you want to go straight from PC to PC then you will need one crossover cable, if you want to go PC to switch then you will need a normal network cable for each of the machines. Most people go with UTP cabling which is relatively cheap and is readily available. UTP cabling is ok for ~150meters I think before you need to get in a relay, so I'm sure you'd be able to connect the computers up on a 30M cable or less. For a 30M cable you're looking at $40, so if you don't need that length the prices get lower to around $7 for a 1Meter cable. Network Cards are cheap too, and most motherboards will come with built-in NIC's to save on having to buy and install one. To check if you have a Network card in the machine already, Start > Control Panel > (Thing that looks like the Icon for My Computer) > System > Device Manager > Network Interface Cards (or something like that). Someone will probably prove me wrong on this one. Alternatively, you could click Start > Run > "CMD" > "IFConfig" and if the reply ends up with Local Area Network, IP Address = 0.0.0.0 then your machine already has your NIC up and running and is waiting to be used. If this is the case then it means all you need to do is setup your machines (5minutes per machine), plug the cable in and away you go - you won't have to open up your case or anything. The advantages to being networked: - share files over a network instead of carting them via floppy disk or CD-R - both machines can access the internet at the same time Bad points: - People forgetting they have a firewall enabled which stuffs up the entire LAN... apart from that you'll be ok :p The whole fun about setting up a home network is to learn something, and I found the experience pretty worthwhile - at the end of the day the choice is yours. CyberChuck |
cyberchuck (173) | ||
| 195105 | 2003-11-27 02:11:00 | from your other posts you seem more than capable of following the instructions that pressf1'ers can give you. cable length max 100m Network cards are no more difficult to install than other stuff you have done previously. turn off computer 1. open case, install NIC (Network Interface Card) (with you, be very grounded, something about a long chain connected to the stove???):D 2. turn PC on, install drivers for NIC, 3. under users in winxp home create a user with the SAME name and password (if required) on each PC for each user that you want to setup. 4. lay cable how you want either drilling hole in floor or running cable up the wall and through the ceiling, Making sure that the cable you buy is a CROSSOVER cable Before drilling holes anywhere lay cable down the hall way first to prove the point that you got it working, then go for it. Setting up Internet connection wizard is not hard, it is just a matter of follow the instructions. start -> control panel -> internet connection wizard or something like that (sorry don't have XP HOME.) cable cost typically $1 per meter plus $2 per end measure how much you need and add 5 metres just to be safe. NIC costs between $16 from good old Dick Smith each up to $120 for really good ones, however some people will tell you to flag cables and go wireless. they are comming down in price but not enough for the average home user. |
Wayne H (1736) | ||
| 195106 | 2003-11-27 02:13:00 | Firstly congrats for reaching 1234 posts (the number somehow popped out at me). Networking XP is easy, as you can use the "Home and Small Office Network Wizard". Each computer will need a network card (unless they're already built into the motherboard), and you'll need CAT5 or CAT6 cabling. If I don't remember wrong, they can be run for 100m without any problems. The cable is about $1/m (CAT5) and you can get it from somewhere like Dick Smith. Theoretically you could do it yourself, but it depends on if you want to run the cables through walls etc. With the cost of the cabling, plugs, sockets etc. it might be worth investing in something like this: www.dse.co.nz to save you the effort of running cables. |
somebody (208) | ||
| 195107 | 2003-11-27 02:14:00 | hmm.. I was a bit too late wasn't I.. | somebody (208) | ||
| 195108 | 2003-11-27 02:17:00 | Start > Run > "CMD" > "IFConfig" and if the reply ends up with Local Area Network, IP Address = 0.0.0.0 then your machine already has your NIC up and running and is waiting to be used. IPCONFIG and it should come up with 169.?.?.? because by default it is set to accept an ip address from DHCP server and it can't find one. If it comes up with Dial up Adapter ip address, that is your modem ignore that. |
Wayne H (1736) | ||
| 195109 | 2003-11-27 02:27:00 | > ok i have not and am at this stage not attempting to > do this, but have some questions . . . > > both my Puters run XP home, can these be suitably > networked? Yes and there are plenty of sites that show how to do this . . . . In MS own words- . microsoft . com/windowsxp/p2p/" target="_blank">www . microsoft . com > every thing seems to talk about 98 etc . Look harder ;) Hint - google . com > > i realise these have to be conected so over what > distance is cabeling ok? mine are at oppoiste ends of > house . . . . (puters) 100mtrs cat 5 network cabling will do it . > does it cost lots$$$ ??? how many different things > would i need? See wown . com > and what do i need to know about the > innards of my puters before i start? > netword cards? wrong name? > ?:| Name is fine see above site . > what are good points about being networked? Lots see above site . > bad > points? Not many . > and the next biggy is could i do this ???? > or do i need help???? I feel you'll probably need assistance . But then again . . . . . . . . . . . . . ;) > the main reson is i dont like to share my puter but > to get to puters running on the net means, kids or > hubby have the option of haveing a go . . . . Just don't give then permissions to access your stuff or set shares to certain files/folders . > may be to much to work on but maybe by mid - late > next year i want to be sufficiently knowledgeable to > establish this???? Yes you will, with help fron F1 and google . And http://www . homenetworkinghelp . com/ > or know that its too much for > me, or just not bother option . . . :D > > yes ? > no? Its totally up to whether you want the network the PCs . > honesty wanted please . . . . . Have been . > TIA > > beetle Mark . p |
mark.p (383) | ||
| 195110 | 2003-11-27 02:34:00 | >hmm.. I was a bit too late wasn't I.. No we are all eager to help beetle, just as cyberchuck beat me to it (man I type slow...) |
Wayne H (1736) | ||
| 195111 | 2003-11-27 02:42:00 | Wrong url Bettle, sorry- http://homenethelp.com/ Some real good forums there too. |
mark.p (383) | ||
| 195112 | 2003-11-27 05:36:00 | Well thank you i think for the confidence.... will probably look a bit further into it in the future, when i am happy with boths puters before doing more fiddling along these lines....dont want to jinx anything at mo, cos at least weekly some operator idiot does some silly things and needs to back track a little.....:D no guess's who.. and currently am not chained to Stove, so no problem with not being um zapped or whatever yet...:p the main prob is to actually get Hubby to say yes to more cables running around house...LOL and what to do with cables.... $$$ will worry about that when i need to... oh and for those with little faith....;\ of course ill ask for help..... when i hit the panic button or just before.....:p thanxs for all input, and im thankful for nice people like you who dont mind stupid long term questions.... and now if i had Winston's Tardis id be at the end of next year already and have my network set up.....lololol dreams are free... as long as no cows get in my way... google here i come..... :D if i think of anything else ill let you know. :D beetle |
beetle (243) | ||
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